After finishing a disappointing 12th last season, the Cowboys have worked hard in the pre-season, rounding it out with an impressive victory over the Northern Pride in Cairns a fortnight ago. Saturday night’s encounter with the Roosters will be Todd Payten’s first as head coach and he believes they have the cattle to be a contender in 2015.

The Sydney Roosters in the meantime will be no pushovers, having elevated a number of players from their premiership-winning SG Ball squad from last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Prop Braden Uele will go up against his old side in the Tricolours and will no doubt be out to make his mark at his new club. Cowboys second-rower Cohen Hess has spent some time with the NRL squad and participated in the NRL Auckland Nines.

For the Roosters, fullback Latrell Mitchell is their danger man. He has plenty of speed and scored 16 tries in 12 matches last season, and is already being compared to South Sydney number one Greg Inglis.